CRPD Successfully Reported Out of Senate Foreign Relations Committee

The vote was 12-6 in favor of the Convention on the a Rights of Persons with Disabilities(CRPD). I want to thank Senator Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and all other Senators, especially Senator Harkin, for helping getting us one step closer to ratification.

Here is Senator Menendez' press release --

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes the Disabilities Treaty

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Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Washington, DC –U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Committee passed the Disabilities Treaty by a vote of 12 to 6.

“One hundred forty six nations and the European Union have ratified the Disabilities Treaty, but it will require American leadership to ensure the treaty’s protections become a reality. The treaty embodies the highest of American standards. From the U.S. Constitution, it borrows principles of equality and the protection of minorities. From the Declaration of Independence, it reflects the unalienable right to pursue happiness. From the Americans with Disabilities Act and other landmark accessibility laws, the treaty enshrines the concept of reasonable accommodation. When we lead, the world follows, and only the United States can show the way in raising worldwide accessibility to the American standard. The Disabilities Treaty is essential to improving the lives of over 1 billion people around the globe with disabilities, as well as the 58 million Americans with disabilities right here at home, including 5.5 million disabled American veterans. This treaty should be ratified and I will continue to work with Democrats and Republicans to achieve this worthwhile and meaningful goal.”

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Our job now is two-fold. First, urge Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, to put the CRPD ON THE SENATE CALENDAR FOR NEXT WEEK. His number in D.C. is tel:202-224-3542. His number in Reno, Nevada is tel:775-686-5750.

Second, our job is to contact our Senators, both Democrats and Republicans, and ask them to vote "yes" on the CRPD. Contacts made by veterans, business leaders, CEOs of organizations, friends and family members of Senators from MO, AR, NC, GA, MS, IN, AZ, ND, OH, and NE will be especially valuable.

My heart is full of thanks to all of you who helped us get this far. Please do all you can in the next few days to make ratification of the CRPD a reality. The world is watching. We can show them once and for all what we are made of and what we stand for -- equality, freedom, opportunity and access for people with disabilities.

Thank you.

CommonGrounder

New book:  A Moral Imperative:  U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, http://t.co/Vigyant7aM